Ava knew that Jin Wei, the young master of the Wei family, was interested in her. She had encountered him several times, and he had made his intentions clear. However, that wasn't her priority.
Despite her frequent agreement with her grandmother about divorcing Ambrose, it was mostly to irritate him. Deep down, even with her resentment toward Ambrose, she wasn't ready to divorce him or get involved with another man just yet. Ava's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly recovered. "I see," she replied, choosing her words carefully. "I didn't realize the proposal was part of this negotiation." Chen leaned forward, his tone more insistent. "I came here for an answer, Ava. Just say yes, and this deal is yours.” Ava felt a surge of conflicting emotions. She had worked tirelessly to secure this meeting, and now it came down to a personal decision that could change everything. She took a deep breath, not knowing what to say. Chen glanced at his watch, tapping it lightly as if to remind Ava of the ticking clock. "I'm waiting for your answer, Ava. Just say yes, and the business will be directed to you." Ava sighed, her frustration barely contained. "Mr. Chen, please, can we separate personal relationships from business? Can we secure this deal based on our company's merits and discuss any personal matters later? I believe this should be a conversation between Jin and me, not a condition for securing a contract.” Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, "Ava, I'm here as a representative of the Wei family, and I'm presenting an opportunity. Jin Wei's interest in you is genuine, and combining our families' strengths would be mutually beneficial." Ava took a deep breath, her resolve firm. "I understand the advantages, Mr. Chen, but I must insist that our professional and personal lives remain separate. Our company is more than capable of handling this project, and I hope you can see that as well." Ava's heart raced as she felt cornered. "Mr. Chen, I..." Chen cut her off, leaning forward with a stern look. "Ava, you're left with no choice here. Either you agree to Jin's terms, or this contract slips through your fingers. Your family needs this, isn't it?" Ava felt a lump in her throat and was unable to find the words to respond. The pressure from Chen's ultimatum weighed heavily on her, leaving her feeling trapped and voiceless. Chen sighed, sensing her hesitation. "Think about it, Ava. This is more than just a business decision; it's about securing your family's future. I'll give you a little more time to reconsider, but don't take too long." Ava's eyes widened in desperation, but no words came out. Chen's imposing presence made it clear that her options were limited. “Actually… Bang!” Ava couldn't say more than two words when the door was forcefully opened. As the door was forcefully pushed open, both Ava and Chen turned their heads in surprise. Ava's eyes widened in shock when she saw Ambrose standing there, his presence unexpected and unsettling. "Ambrose? What are you doing here?" She asked, her voice tinged with confusion. Ambrose didn't utter a word in response. Instead, his gaze hardened as he locked eyes with Chen, who looked equally taken aback by Ambrose's sudden appearance. Without a word, Ambrose strode forward and placed the bowl of food he had brought on the table. Then, with a sudden burst of anger, Ambrose grabbed Chen's suit jacket, his grip tight and unyielding. "How dare you force her with your useless terms?" he spat out, his voice laced with contempt and fury. Ambrose had already been behind the door, listening to the whole conversation. Chen's expression morphed from shock to anger. "How dare you! Who do you think you are?" he retorted. Ignoring Chen's question, Ambrose delivered a swift kick to Chen's leg, causing him to recoil in pain. "I'm Ava's husband," Ambrose declared firmly, his words ringing out in the tense atmosphere of the office. Ignoring Chen's question, Ambrose delivered a swift kick to Chen's leg, causing him to recoil in pain. "I'm Ava's husband," Ambrose declared firmly, his words ringing out in the tense atmosphere of the office. Ava's face flushed with a mixture of anger and embarrassment as she watched the scene unfold before her. "Ambrose, stop it! What are you doing?" she yelled, her voice filled with frustration and shame. But Ambrose's rage seemed uncontainable as he continued his assault on Chen. Feeling overwhelmed by the chaotic scene unfolding before her, Ava reached out and grabbed hold of Ambrose's shirt, her grip firm as she tried to pull him away from Chen. With a surge of frustration, she delivered a resounding slap to Ambrose's face. “Stop the nonsense.” She yelled at him. The force of the slap stunned Ambrose, his movements coming to an abrupt halt as he staggered backward, his hand instinctively rising to touch his cheek. Shock and hurt flashed across his eyes. "What were you thinking, Ambrose? How dare you barge in here like this and create a scene?" Despite her harsh words, she reached out to help Chen. “Mr. Chen, I'm so sorry for everything that has happened. I'm really sorry; I didn't expect this.” She apologized Chen, however, refused Ava's apology. "So, this is the useless husband of yours that everyone speaks of?" He sneered. "You collaborate with this lowly idiot to humiliate me?” Ava tried to intervene, attempting to explain the misunderstanding, but Chen's anger only intensified. "Ainsley," he spat, "I'll spare you and your family this time. But don't ever dream of getting this project from us." With those final words, he stormed out of the office. Ava slumped heavily into her chair. "God, I'm dead," she whispered. She buried her face in her hands, her mind swirling. "I've worked so hard for this," she murmured, her voice muffled by her palms. "Countless late nights, endless negotiations... all for nothing." She shook her head, feeling the sting of tears threatening to spill over. "How could it all fall apart like this?" "I've put my heart and soul into this project," she continued, her voice trembling with frustration. "I thought we had a chance... I thought I had a chance, but now... it's all gone. Just like that." She let out a frustrated sigh. "What am I going to tell Grandma?" She wondered aloud, her voice barely above a whisper. "How can I face my family after this?" Ambrose approached Ava cautiously, his heart heavy with concern for her. "Ava, please," he said gently, using the term "wife" in an attempt to calm her down. But her anger seemed to boil over. Before Ambrose could react, Ava's hand flew through the air once more, poised to strike him with another slap. But this time, he was ready. With swift reflexes, he caught her hand mid-air, his grip firm but gentle. "What happened, Ava?" he asked.Ava's eyes flashed with fury as she struggled against his hold, expressing her frustration and disappointment. "You happened, Ambrose!" she spat. "You and your useless antics!" Her words were like daggers, each one aimed at his heart. "You've ruined everything, just like you always do!" "I'm sorry, I didn't like how..." Ambrose began, his voice trailing off as Ava's furious gaze bore into him. "Who the hell are you to decide what you like and what you dislike?" Ava's words were sharp, cutting through Ambross like a knife. "Ambrose, who the hell are you?" she demanded. Ambrose stood there in silence, unable to find the right words to defend himself against Ava's accusations. He could feel the weight of her anger pressing down on him, suffocating him with guilt and shame. "S-speak," Ava insisted, her voice trembling as she pushed him to respond. "I'm sorry, Ava," Ambrose finally managed to stammer out, his head bowed in shame. "I didn't mean for things to turn out this way. I
Anna looked at Ambrose and said, "By the way, Mr. Li, can you come with us? You'll get the explanation you want.""Go with you? To where? I'm not going anywhere," Ambrose replied."Do not be afraid, Mr. Li. You won't be harmed."Ambrose shook his head again, more firmly this time. "No, you all leave. I'm not going with anyone, especially strangers.”Anna smiled gently. "Mr. Ambrose, don't you want to put an end to your sufferings? Don't you want the world to hear your name? Don't you want to enjoy luxury, spend as much as you want, and control millions?"Ambrose swallowed hard. Who didn't dream of such opportunities? Of course, he did. "What if I do? What about that?" he asked, looking intently at Anna.Anna nodded respectfully. "Trust me, Mr. Li, following us can be the solution to your problems. Look around; there's no one here. If we really wanted to harm you, we would have done that without anyone noticing.”Ambrose was stunned by her logic. She was right; harming him here would b
Ava took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice. "Jonathan, I need your help. I'm in a bit of a bind with the Wei family. I was supposed to secure a major deal, but things fell apart at the last minute."Jonathan chuckled softly, though his tone was curious. "The Wei family, huh? That's a tough break. But why come to me, Ava? You've always kept me at arm's length.”"I know," Ava admitted, her voice quieter. "And I regret that now. But your father has connections with the Wei family, right? I was hoping you might be able to pull some strings and help me salvage this deal. It would mean a lot to my family and me."Jonathan paused for a moment, considering. "Ava, I'm flattered you thought of me. And you're right, my dad does have some influence. But what's in it for me? Why should I help you after all the times you've brushed me off?”Ava's heart sank a little, but she pressed on. "Jonathan, I'm asking for your help as a last resort. I know I haven't been fair to you, but this deal is
"What?" Ambrose opened his mouth in shock. "Wh... wha... what do you mean by "I'll inherit your wealth?" He turned to look at Anna, his eyes wide with disbelief. Jun looked at Anna and said, "Explain things to him." Anna nodded and stepped forward. "Master Li, what the old master means is that you're going to be his heir. All the properties he has amassed and all his wealth will now be yours. You'll become the Chairman of Gemstar Platinum Group of Companies.” "Puff!" Ambrose stood up with such force that his legs weakened, and he fell back down, his eyes wide with shock. Anna quickly rushed to his side, helping him up and into a chair. "Is anything wrong, Master Li?" she asked, concerned. "Water, please give me water," Ambrose said hurriedly. Anna quickly brought him a bottle of water. He opened it and drank deeply. "Is there anything wrong, my grandson?" Jun asked, worry etched on his face. "You said I'll become a Chairman?" Ambrose repeated, his voice shaking. Jun nodded. "O
"Yes, 10 million dollars," the old master confirmed. "That is for your upkeep and things you want to do.""Ten million dollars for upkeep?" Ambrose's eyes wanted to pop out. That was an insane figure. Even if an angel had descended to tell him he was going to touch an amount like $1 million ever in his life, there was no way he would ever believe it. And to think someone was going to give him $10 million? When Anna told him following her would change his story, this wasn't the kind of big change he was expecting.The old master chuckled. "Ambrose, $10 million is nothing compared to the income of our business chains. Ten million is just a mere number, nothing big, so don't be freaked out."Ambrose opened his mouth, but no words came out. He was dumbfounded at that moment.With $10 million and acting as the Chairman of the Gemstar Platinum Group of Companies, even the popular and wealthy Wei family was going to be nothing in his eyes. At that moment, he didn't know whether to laugh or c
"Wow!" Ambrose was stunned. The Wei family owned several pharmaceutical businesses all over Silverwood, making them extremely rich. He never expected the company he now owned to be the one that financed the Wei family. This was a huge opportunity for him.Anna noticed his reaction and asked, "Master, is there anything you want me to do?”Ambrose nodded. "Actually, my wife’s company was on the verge of securing a business deal with the Wei family, but things got messed up because of me. I’ll be so happy if you can help me with that and get her the contract."Anna nodded confidently. "That is very simple, master. You have nothing to worry about; I'll handle it promptly."Ambrose felt a wave of relief wash over him. "But please, in everything, I want to remain anonymous.""As you wish, master," Anna assured him. "Everything about you will be kept confidential.”Ambrose smiled, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. "Thank you, Anna. By the way, you're very pretty."Anna smiled lightly,
"What?" Ava's eyes widened as she sat up straight, her body trembling slightly. Chen had left angry about an hour ago, and now he was calling. "Mr. Chen, Ava here, I'm glad to have you on the phone," she said, trying to mask her surprise. "Ms. Ainsley, I wanted to apologize for yelling at you and leaving your office earlier. It was unprofessional of me," Chen said, his tone sincere.Ava was stunned. "It's not a problem, Mr. Chen," she replied, struggling to find the right words."Okay, so I called because the Wei family is willing to give you the contract. I'll come to your office any moment from now and sign what you wanted me to sign," Chen informed her.Ava's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't believe what she was hearing and thought it might be a mistake or some kind of cruel joke."Wh...what did you say, Mr. Chen?" she stammered, needing to reconfirm what she had just heard."I said the Wei family is willing to give you the contract," Chen repeated calmly. "I'll come to your off
Ambrose remained unfazed. "Like I said, I'll take it," he reiterated. The attendant's smile faltered, but he continued to eye Ambrose skeptically."Alright then," he said, trying to mask his disbelief. "Let's see if you can back up that confidence.”Ambrose opened his bank app and, upon seeing the 10 million dollars again, stared at it for a moment, still in disbelief. The attendant chuckled, misinterpreting Ambrose's pause."Oh, you realized your balance is low?" the attendant mocked lightly.Ambrose remained silent, his expression steady. "Give me the account number to pay into," he said firmly.The attendant, still thinking Ambrose was just trying to show off, smirked and provided the account details. "Sure, here it is. Let’s see if it goes through," he said, waiting for the inevitable moment when Ambrose would claim there was a problem.Ambrose swiftly entered the details and confirmed the payment. He raised his head and looked at the attendant. "I've paid in full. Now bring the
Ambrose nodded and smiled, watching Ava with a mix of amusement and affection. Just as he was about to say something, Ava suddenly stood up, her movements unsteady for a moment, but then, to his surprise, she began to sway to the music.Without any hesitation, she stepped out into the open space near their table and started dancing. The soft rhythm of the music filled the room, and Ava’s body seemed to flow effortlessly with it. Her movements, though tipsy, were graceful and captivating. She twirled, her arms floating through the air, and soon enough, she was dancing with such confidence that it mesmerized everyone around her.Ambrose was stunned. He had never seen this side of her. He watched in awe, not quite sure whether to laugh or join her. He glanced around, noticing other people had turned their heads to watch her as well. A few of them even started clapping in rhythm with her steps, encouraging her.Palermo, seated a few tables away, was glaring at her, his eyes narrowing with
Ambrose nodded and smiled, watching Ava with a mix of amusement and affection. Just as he was about to say something, Ava suddenly stood up, her movements unsteady for a moment, but then, to his surprise, she began to sway to the music.Without any hesitation, she stepped out into the open space near their table and started dancing. The soft rhythm of the music filled the room, and Ava’s body seemed to flow effortlessly with it. Her movements, though tipsy, were graceful and captivating. She twirled, her arms floating through the air, and soon enough, she was dancing with such confidence that it mesmerized everyone around her.Ambrose was stunned. He had never seen this side of her. He watched in awe, not quite sure whether to laugh or join her. He glanced around, noticing other people had turned their heads to watch her as well. A few of them even started clapping in rhythm with her steps, encouraging her.Palermo, seated a few tables away, was glaring at her, his eyes narrowing with
Ambrose nodded and smiled, watching Ava with a mix of amusement and affection. Just as he was about to say something, Ava suddenly stood up, her movements unsteady for a moment, but then, to his surprise, she began to sway to the music.Without any hesitation, she stepped out into the open space near their table and started dancing. The soft rhythm of the music filled the room, and Ava’s body seemed to flow effortlessly with it. Her movements, though tipsy, were graceful and captivating. She twirled, her arms floating through the air, and soon enough, she was dancing with such confidence that it mesmerized everyone around her.Ambrose was stunned. He had never seen this side of her. He watched in awe, not quite sure whether to laugh or join her. He glanced around, noticing other people had turned their heads to watch her as well. A few of them even started clapping in rhythm with her steps, encouraging her.Palermo, seated a few tables away, was glaring at her, his eyes narrowing with
Meanwhile, at the restaurant, Ambrose and Ava were still enjoying their dinner, the atmosphere lively with soft music playing in the background. Ambrose looked at Ava, smiling warmly as he reached for his glass.“You seem to be really enjoying the food,” he said, playfully nudging her.Ava smiled, taking a sip of her drink. “Well, it’s not every day I get to enjoy something this fancy.”Ambrose chuckled. “You deserve this every day, you know.”Ava looked at him with a mix of curiosity and affection. “You’re really full of surprises tonight.”Ambrose took her hand, squeezing it gently. “I’m really proud of you, Ava.”As they continued talking and eating, Ambrose suddenly picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and held it out to Ava. She blinked, momentarily shocked by his gesture."Ambrose, what are you doing?" she asked, her voice laced with surprise and shyness."Feeding you," he said with a teasing grin. "Come on, don’t be shy."Ava’s cheeks flushed, and she glanced around th
After placing their expensive orders, both Ambrose and Ava set their phones down. Ambrose turned to her and asked, "So, how's it going?""How's what going?" Ava asked."Your work. The contract for the Wei family, I mean."Ava nodded. "It's going well. It felt like a huge weight at first, but Dera's been helping little by little, so everything's going smoothly now.”"Dera," Ambrose nodded thoughtfully. "Is she staying at the manor permanently now?"Ava shook her head. "She’s planning to rent her own place soon, once she finds something. But for now, since she's helping me out, it just makes sense for her to stay at the manor.""Alright," Ambrose nodded again. He then gently took Ava’s hand, looking into her eyes without speaking."What?" Ava asked, her voice carrying a hint of shyness.Ambrose smiled softly. "I want to apologize.”"Apologize for what?" Ava asked, slightly confused."For everything," he said. "We got married against your will. Your dreams of marrying someone wealthy or.
Meanwhile, inside, Palermo was growing bolder by the second, leaning closer to Ava as he tried to charm her.Palermo reached out, attempting to lightly brush her arm. “Come on, why don’t we just enjoy the evening together, huh?”Before his hand could make contact, Ava snapped back, her voice strong and unyielding, “Touch me, and you’ll regret it.”Palermo paused, taken aback by her intensity but still trying to play it cool. “Whoa, calm down. I’m just being friendly.”“Friendly or not,” Ava shot back, her eyes narrowing, “I’m not interested, and I’m warning you—don’t try anything again.”At that moment, Ambrose re-entered the restaurant, his eyes immediately locking onto Palermo leaning too close to Ava. His face hardened as he quickened his pace. Without hesitation, Ambrose strode up to them and forcefully pushed Palermo back, making him stumble away from Ava.“Don’t touch my wife!” Ambrose’s voice was cold, his eyes burning with intensity as he squared up to Palermo, his frame tense
Immediately Ambrose reached the table and Ava saw him, she smiled warmly and said, "You're here."Ambrose nodded, his gaze briefly flicking to Palermo with a slight frown before turning back to Ava. He handed her a single rose he had been holding. "This is yours."Ava was pleasantly surprised as she took the flower, admiring how beautiful it was. "Thank you," she said, smiling.Ambrose nodded, his expression still a bit serious as he looked at Palermo and then back to Ava. "Who's he?" he asked.Ava glanced at Palermo and replied, "This man here is Palermo. He offered to pay for my drink, and I refused. But guess what? He doesn't believe I have a husband and thinks he can give me some sort of 'great treatment.'"Ambrose’s frown deepened at her words. He turned fully towards Palermo, his voice calm but firm. "Hello, she told you she has a husband, so why are you still trying to force things?"Palermo looked Ambrose up and down with a smirk. "Where's your ring? Did you just manage to get
The staff member hesitated slightly, then leaned closer to Ava. "Madam, I understand your wish to pay, but that man is a big deal around here. It would be wise to give him face. A gesture like this—"Ava cut him off, her tone calm but firm. "I said no thanks. It's $500, right? I'll pay it myself. It's simple." She handed the staff member her card and calmly gave him the password.The staff member gave her a cold look, clearly understanding that Ava wasn’t going to be swayed. He took the card and walked back to the man in the suit. "She refused your payment and offered to pay herself," he said quietly.The man smirked, his gaze trailing back toward Ava. "Alright, don't worry about it," he replied, though there was a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. He glanced toward Ava one more time.Ava, feeling the weight of his gaze, briefly locked eyes with him before she deliberately looked away and focused on her phone. She checked the time—7:00 PM. Ambrose hadn’t arrived yet, which
Ambrose walked out to the cab which was parked outside and then sat inside. Sitting inside, the driver greeted him coolly. Ambrose responded then asked him to drive quickly. Ava had just finished changing back into the outfit she wore earlier that morning, a stylish yet practical look that blended well with her professional demeanor. She glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Satisfied with her appearance, she took a deep breath and started the car.The engine roared to life, and she quickly punched the location Ambrose had given her—Le Jardin Gourmet—into the GPS. As the directions appeared on the screen, she shifted into gear and pulled out of the lot.The drive wasn’t too long, but Ava found herself thinking about the upcoming dinner, her thoughts drifting to Ambrose. She wasn't used to such gestures from him, and the fact that he had planned the evening left her with mixed emotions. Half an hour later, Ava pulled up near